Swale

Swale's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Swale increased by 11%, from just under 123,000 to 136,000.

The addition of just over 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swale was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in considerably limiting disability

Census 2011 data also show a change in the proportion of disabled people here.

The percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Swale increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swale, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Across the region, only Rother (from 2.2% to 3.0%) and Folkestone and Hythe (from 2.2% to 2.9%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 2.0%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Swale reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Swale remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Swale

The number of people in Swale that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 19,000 in 2001 to just over 39,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Swale that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 93,000 in 2001 to about 86,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 9,300 to just over 9,000 (from 7.6% to 6.7%).

About 790 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 450 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Swale increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Swale that rented privately increased from 9.0% to 15% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of Swale households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Swale increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swale, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Swale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, about 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Swale decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swale, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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